When expressing where someone is from or their nationality in Spanish, you’ll use the verb “ser” (to be) instead of “estar” (to be). This is because origin and nationality are seen as permanent characteristics in Spanish grammar. Let’s break down how to use “ser” confidently in these situations!
Conjugating “Ser” (To Be) in the Present Tense 
First, let’s refresh our memory on how to conjugate “ser” in the present tense:
- Yo soy (I am)
- Tú eres (You are – informal)
- Él/Ella/Usted es (He/She/You (formal) is)
- Nosotros/Nosotras somos (We are)
- Vosotros/Vosotras sois (You all are – informal, used in Spain)
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes son (They/You all are)
Talking About Where You’re From 
To express where you or someone else is from, use “ser de” followed by the place name.
Examples:
- Soy de Estados Unidos. (I am from the United States.)
- ¿Eres de Barcelona? (Are you from Barcelona?)
- Ella es de Perú. (She is from Peru.)
- Somos de Canadá. (We are from Canada.)
- ¿De dónde son ustedes? (Where are you all from?)
Expressing Nationality 
To talk about nationality, use “ser” followed by the corresponding nationality adjective. Remember that nationality adjectives are not capitalized in Spanish and they need to match the gender and number of the person you’re talking about.
Examples:
- Soy estadounidense. (I am American.)
- Eres española, ¿verdad? (You’re Spanish, right?)
- Ellos son argentinos. (They are Argentinian.)
- Somos mexicanos. (We are Mexican.)
Using “Ser” with “De Origen” Roots 
You can also use “ser” with the phrase “de origen” to talk about someone’s ethnic or cultural background. This is especially handy when discussing heritage or ancestry.
Examples:
- Soy de origen italiano. (I am of Italian origin.)
- Ella es de origen chino pero nació en España. (She is of Chinese origin but was born in Spain.)
Common Mistakes to Avoid 
- Don’t use “estar” for origin or nationality. It’s incorrect to say “Estoy de Francia” or “Están americanos.”
- Make sure those nationality adjectives agree!
- Él es italiano, ella es italiana. (He is Italian, she is Italian.)
- Ellos son brasileños, ellas son brasileñas. (They (m) are Brazilian, they (f) are Brazilian.)
- No capital letters for nationalities in Spanish, unlike in English.
Remember: Mastering how to use “ser” for origin and nationality will make your Spanish sound much more natural and fluent. ¡Sigue practicando! (Keep practicing!) 